Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) informed that the Japan Government is expediting the formality process for the operation of Japan flights. Newly appointed Ambassador of Japan for Nepal H.E. Masamichi Saigo apprised ministry about the Japan’s cooperation in multiple development aspects of Nepal.
The agreement has already been made between Japan and Nepal to permit Nepali carriers to operate flights in all airports except Haneda in Tokyo.
The bilateral air agreement between Japan and Nepal conducted on the first week of June has been reviewed which allowed both nation to operate 14-14 flights. Apart from the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation from Nepal, the government has allowed other carrier to allow flight from 14 flights and such rules apply to Japan too.
According to a agreement with Japan from two and a half decades ago, the airlines from both countries could operate 2 flights with its 400 seats aircraft. Government of Japan has provided green signal for Nepalese Carrier to land at all the airport in Japan except Haneda Airport in Tokyo during the discussions over amending the air service agreement (ASA) between the two countries.
After being unable to operate flights at the airport of Haneda, now the best option is Narita International Airport. The national flag carrier used to fly to Osaka via Shanghai until 2008 when it was forced to suspend the route due to lack of aircraft.
Nepal has signed ASA’s with 38 countries since 1963, with New Zealand and Vietnam being the latest countries. This provides 6 million seats per annum to and from Nepal. However, less than 40 percent of this capacity has been put to use. At the present scenario, 29 international airlines are operating flights from Kathmandu to 22 cities in Asia and Europe.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in comparison to the 31,531 Nepalese living in Japan at the end of 2013, the number has surged up to more than 60,000. Nepali community is the fifth largest foreign community in Japan. And the number is likely to grow substantially in coming years as 2020 Olympic Games is about to approach on Japan, the ministry said. Every year, over 10,000 Nepali students goes Japan to pursue higher studies. And it has been the 2nd most preferred destination for Nepali students looking to study abroad.
